week 5 done

[Bobbyrob]

hi all - I have just finished week5 of couch25k and feel like a runner.

I am nervous about week6 and keen to avoid injury.

Any and all advice appreciated

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

Welcome to the forum! You must be proud of yourself for getting to week 5. That’s fantastic! How have you found it so far? Is there anything that’s particularly worrying you about week 6?

The key thing is to keep it slow and steady. You want to be running at a pace where you can hold a conversation out loud in full sentences. That might be slower than you expect but it’s how you’ll develop best as a runner. Keep taking test days after each run. Stretching before and after each run will help you recover too-dynamic stretches before and static ones after. This is all explained in the programme guide linked below. Well worth reading!

healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

Really good luck to you! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Bobbyrob in reply to MissUnderstanding]

thanks for the link. I know I don’t stretch enough.

[Cmoi Graduate]

Hi Bobbyrob , just to add to MissUnderstanding 's excellent advice: make sure you take week 6, particularly the first run, slowly. Sometimes the euphoria of completing week 5 leads runners to set off faster than they realise. Sticking to a nice comfortable pace is a much better idea - you can always work on getting a bit faster, if you want to, once you've finished the programme. Have fun!

[Roxdog Graduate]

Well done! As someone who completed the programme 3 years ago, I can honestly say that my more recent regime of doing proper warming up exercises, before my 5 minute warm up walk, has worked wonders. I really believe it has kept injuries at bay. Having had a few injuries previously, they've always been related to pushing too hard and as I put it 'battering myself'! Take it nice and steady and you'll be fine.

[Hidden]

Just do what you are doing; follow the programme and keep the faith x

[Mothmoss Graduate]

Also, make sure you are drinking water steadily throughout the day, so your body is well hydrated - it has been a game changer for me and stopped me from getting that depressing heavy leg/I can't carry on feeling this time around.